Ok, here it goes I am a running store employee and my bosses are currently on all of us to try to sell inserts to every runner. Personally I don't believe everyone needs them, but I"m wondering what other runners would think. I feel like i'm being pushed to sell product that everyone doens't need. any advice or opinions are appreciated.
Yeah you are getting hosed. If your boss says that, he/she doesn't give a crap about his/her running customers. Quite frankly, I highly doubt that you should even call it a running store that you work in. Really? New shoes and new orthotics?
I wish I could tell you what to do. Your boss is an ass. I hope he is just misguided. But you don't want to get fired. Find another 'running' store to work in.
Yeah I'm back. I'm sorry. I just get heated. The other day I just went into a 'running' store. I just wanted my wave riders. I don't have a foot problem. Then they tell me I need superfeet insert with it. what? why the hell would i need that? I run 10 miles every day. I'm fine with my shoes. crimany. i thought i was already getting good shoes. but all of a sudden my shoes which cost nearly $100 aren't good enough so i need orthotics? i'm afraid you work in a crappy place, just like the 'running' store i used to shop at.
On average, people who grow up without shoes have fewer lower limb problems. Your boss is looking at fattening his profits.
the real mobile9 wrote:
Your boss is looking at fattening his profits.
Exactly.
Although it probably isn't great for our bottom line, we sell a pair of insoles to maybe 5-10% of our customers. The shoes should be good enough.
I'll tell our customers that and they do seem to appreciate it.
Thanks for the replies and to worsen the situation they came out with margin of shoes to inserts. For every shoe they want me to sell .65 inserts. I have a hard time believing 65% of people we sell shoes need an insert. I also believe in under-correcting before overcorrecting. Not sure what I should do, just continue to sell my usual amount, my sales are always high but thats without pushing products on people. Now with the economy the way it is they may give me the boot for a better product pusher. Also the quality of the running store has deteriorated over the years, it used to have real runners, not 5 hour marathoners working there, but now there are only a couple left and they have hired either people who know little to nothing about running and are extremely slow to boot.